Fallball Holes to Fill: Midfield

Our Fallball Holes to Fill series on ILWomen.com continues with a look at the teams who have the most to replace at midfield. Draw specialists will also be included here.

While the holes left at midfield from the 2013 graduating class may not be as large in quantity as the attack group, it certainly ranks high in quality. Four of the five first-team All-American midfielders have graduated, including two-time Tewaaraton winner Katie Schwarzmann and Honda Award winner Kara Cannizzaro.

Maryland: The Terps lose one of the best midfielders to take the field in the last four years in Schwarzmann, who was the youngest member of the U.S. National Team this summer. Yes, the Terps will miss Schwarzmann's 58 goals and 27 assists, but her absense will be felt far beyond that, as Schwarzmann was also one of the best two-way midfielders in the nation. Her defensive presence was outstanding and no one scraps on 50-50 balls off the draw like she does. However, midfield seems to be a position where the Terps simply reload, and not only do Brooke Griffin, Taylor Cummings, Beth Glaros and Kelly McPartland all return, but Maryland also brings in one of the best midfield rookie groups in Division I.

North Carolina: Cannizzaro was clutch for the Tar Heels throughout the season and particularly down the stretch as she led them to the program's first-ever national championship. Like Schwarzmann, Cannizzaro is a player who had an impact all over the field. Her 39 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers, both team highs, will need to be replaced. Emily Garrity is the only other major loss for the Tar Heels. While not as big of an offensive loss as Cannizzaro, Garrity was huge between the 30s for UNC, picking up 26 ground balls and causing 21 turnovers.

Northwestern: Taylor Thornton is the biggest loss from a midfield that will also be without Amanda Macaluso (25G and 9A last season) and Ali Cassera (24, 2). Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has said Thornton is one of the best players to come through the Northwestern program, so her loss will certainly be felt. While the 'Cats return one of the best draw specialists in the game in Alyssa Leonard, Thornton and Gabriella Flibotte, were huge coming off the circle. How much will their absense impact NU's ability to win draws?

Florida: Brittany Dashiell was one of the Gators' most complete midfielder, finishing with 31 goals, 22 assists and 58 draw controls in 2013. While Florida will certainly miss the athleticism and two-way play of the 2012 Tewaaraton finalist, the Gators have always had depth. Shannon Gilroy is poised to be one of the nation's top players entering the upcoming season and Nora Barry will also shoulder some of the burden in Dashiell's absence.

Dartmouth: Courtney Bennett didn't put up the most impressive offensive numbers in 2013, but she earned third-team All-America honors by being Big Green's top all-around midfielder, finishing with 56 draw controls, a team high, and 35 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers. Kelsey Johnson, more of a defensive midfielder who led Dartmouth with 39 ground balls and 23 causted turnovers, will also be tough to replace. Jaclyn Leto could be Dartmouth's most impressive midfielder after putting up a strong freshman campaign.

Stony Brook: In two seasons at the Division I level, Demmianne Cook dazzled with her speed , athleticism and goal-scoring ability. Her impact in transition and her threat as a dodger from the top of the eight meter will be missed on Long Island. Cook's NCAA-high 90 goals in 2013 likely can't be replicated by one player, but Michelle Rubino and Amber Kupres will be the midfield stars for the Seawolves this season.

Georgetown: The Hoyas lose three midfielders in Sophia Thomas, Kelsi Bozel and Erin Lovett, all of whom were on one of Georgetown's top two lines last season. Thomas is a former Big East Midfielder of the Year and she and Bozel combined for 38 goals and 28 caused turnovers last season. The cupboard isn't bare at midfield for coach Ricky Fried — Kelyn Freedman (31G, 10A) and Hannah Franklin (25, 4), both part of the Hoyas' top-ranked recruiting class in 2010, will be the leaders entering their senior year.